I work on a game team at Blizzard so I think I understand why I work there, but given the pay and treatment of non game team people at gaming companies, why don't non-gaming team people just move to FAANG or other tech companies? What's the reason you stay?
What is a “gaming dev”? A dev who happens to not work on X component or a special kind of dev?
Like people who don't work directly on the games we make, but are more of a support role. Don't understand why they stay.
That "support role" descriptor is super vague though. If you're working on the underlying systems that do things like interpret Lua written by game designers is that supportive or directly game facing? Or you're doing data engineering that feeds a ml model that influences how you think about game design issues or dlc recommendations, is that game facing? Point being there's lots of grey and I'd argue lots of ways to feel connected to the industry and our players for a respective title even if you're not say, working directly in Unreal, Unity, <insert engine here>. To the "why they stay" question, because it takes a literal village to create awesome game experiences and so therefore there's lots of ways that folks can still feel connected to the work that eventually hits a player's hands, and ultimately, that still is pretty exciting and meaningful thing for many of us in the industry.
Non game engineer here, interesting problem space that is hard to find elsewhere.
Exactly. Non game engineering here as well, lots of super interesting problems to solve even when not directly on the product. Also, if you love games, it's not like you aren't surrounded by them. And despite a few areas here where product engineering is "Talk to the hand" the rest of the studio is pretty collaborative and open to ideas and discussion.
Because working at a game company is fun. I’d rather be passionate about my work and take less money.
You work at riot, what the fuck would you know about less money
Work at Riot too, compared to FAANG we absolutely are taking less money. We're not making no money, but there is a very clear delta.
Cause usually we make more on the centralized teams (at least in the Bay Area)
It's the same in LA, non-game roles in the tech space can pay better than game roles.
I think a lot of people are fulfilled by being any part, large or small, of impacting other people in a positive way. Games are a deep human impulse and have been around for millenia. And play more generally has been around since long before games or humans even existed. For instance if you do security on a live game service you may not be on “the game team” but you are integral to delivering that experience to gamers. And to the extent that you consider games a net positive in the world you are a part of that impact. Compare that to social media which is increasingly becoming viewed as a net negative in terms of mental health and political ramifications (blah blah russian bots and polarization). Or perhaps compare it to vaporware companies just trying to get bought. When you make something for players, you see an immediate visceral impact. You give them an experience. Some people want to feel good about the work they do at the end of the day.
Pretty much this. I know I'm leaving money on the table, but I literally have zero interest in FAANG or similar. I'm not directly "game team", but without the work of my team, literally our games would cease to function. I feel a strong sense of accomplishment and connection to our players as a result.
Well said
We get treated better than you op
Non game team pros: get prestige and relaxed environment of game developer, great wlb, people think you are a genius when you release a backed service that isn't a disaster. Cons: have to deal with psychopaths who do management in game industry from time to time, have to watch the gamedevs lick their boots, very cringe
Back end*
They pay considerably higher than similar jobs at other local companies and the environment is much more laid back.
I work here because they were hiring and offered more money. If someone else offers more money then I'll work there. Hoping to work somewhere else soon, as the company "culture/mindset" is too much for me
What's wrong with the company culture/ mindset?
I think a lot of people tend to be obsessed with the company because they grew up addicted as hell to WoW. The company can do no wrong in their eyes, which I think is a sad way to be. A lot of them will never leave unless forced out. I've often seen them reluctant to accept new team members also just because they acquired their experience outside of Blizzard rather than within
Lots of Stockholm Syndrome in this thread lol
They do here at least. Most of the devs I've known worked at indie studios for a couple years to gain experience, and then moved to other tech companies.